Medusa are humanoids that have made a bargain with dark powers to achieve beauty, eternal youth, great wealth, or some other mortal desire. As a consequence, their hair has been replaced with snakes, and their eyes have the power to petrify the unwary. They are despised and shunned by all other mortal species, and they must be careful to hide their identity when traveling in the civilized places of the world.

Legend of the Medusa#

Thousands of years ago, a woman came to Thylea seeking her fortune. First, the woman searched the steppes and mountains, and she came to the centaurs, asking, “Where may I find gems and jewels to rival the stars?” The centaurs offered her a shank of lamb and said, “Why seek gems and jewels when the stars are free to everyone?” Disappointed, she cast away the food and left the centaurs to their star-gazing.

Then the woman searched the forests, and she came to the satyrs, asking, “Where may I find rivers of gold and silver that flow like fountains?” The satyrs offered her a goblet of wine and said, “Gold and silver make a very poor feast. Wouldn’t you rather join us for a song and a drink?” Disappointed again, the woman cast away the goblet and left the satyrs to their revelry. Now, the woman wandered high and low, seeking her fortune to no avail, and finally she came upon three women weaving at a loom.

She said, “I wish for riches beyond the imagination of all the creatures that haunt this accursed land.” The three women, who were the Fates, warned her. “Is this truly what you desire? You may have it, but the price will be high.” And the woman answered, “When I am rich, I shall have no trouble paying any price.” And the Fates said, “So be it.” The woman’s eyes suddenly gleamed like golden coins, and wherever she turned her gaze, creatures were turned to stone. “So that none may rob you of your treasure,” said the Fates. The woman’s hair grew long and sinuous, slithering and scaled like snakes.

“So that always you will have the company of hearts as cold as your own.” And finally, the woman’s hands were filled with gems and coins that were beautiful beyond the reckoning of stars or songs. Her name was Medusa, and she was the namesake of her curse, which afflicts many such mortals with more ambition than sense.

Cursed by Dark Powers#

Medusae have typically made bargains with some sort of fiend or fiendish power, but in some cases, they are oathbreakers who have displeased the gods or the Fates. Either way, they have been afflicted with the Curse of the Medusa (appendix D) as punishment, and recovery from the curse is not possible without the use of powerful magic. Even the greater restoration spell is not enough to break the curse. But in many other cases, the medusa simply embraces the curse as part of her identity. Children born to medusae are also affected by the curse.

Medusa Traits#

• Creature Type: Monstrosity
• Size: Medium (the same size and build as humans)
• Speed: 30 feet

As a Medusa you have the following special traits.

Darkvision**.** Your eyes are adapted to dark places, giving you Darkvision out to 120 ft.

Snake Hair**.** You can attack with your snake hair. This is a melee weapon attack with an attack bonus equal to your Proficiency Bonus + your Dexterity modifier. It does 1d6 Piercing Damage on a hit and the target makes a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 plus your Constitution modifier and Proficiency Bonus). On a failed save, the creature has the Poisoned condition until the start of your next turn.

Snake Blood**.** You have Advantage on saving throws to avoid or end the Poisoned condition.

Petrifying Gaze**.** When you reach character level 5, you can take an Action to force a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see and does not have the Blinded condition to make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 plus your Charisma modifier and Proficiency Bonus). On a failed save, the target has the Restrained condition until the end of your next turn. While Restrained in this way, you can use Petrifying Gaze on that creature as a Bonus Action on subsequent turns. If it fails its saving throw three consecutive times, it has the Petrified condition until the condition is ended by the Greater Restoration spell or a similar effect.